Concord’s Cooldown System is a Double-Edged Sword

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Concord's Cooldown System is a Double-Edged Sword

As a seasoned gamer who’s spent countless hours mastering hero shooters, I must say that Concord has managed to pique my interest with its unique take on the genre. The game’s cooldown system is one such feature that, while not perfect, certainly adds a fresh twist to the formula we’ve grown accustomed to.

2024 presents a challenge for developers when it comes to creating something fresh within the hero shooter genre. After all, “Team Fortress 2” laid down most of its gameplay foundations nearly two decades ago, and “Overwatch” built upon these conventions and skyrocketed the genre’s popularity. Now, games such as “Marvel Rivals”, “FragPunk”, and “Deadlock” are all gearing up to enter the scene. However, against all expectations, “Concord” introduces something novel to this crowded field.

In a nutshell, Concord boasts an array of game modes upon release, 16 playable Freegunners, and a wealth of customization choices to keep players engaged over the long haul. These aspects are par for the course in today’s hero shooter landscape. However, to stand out, Concord needed to present something unique. While it might not have a plethora of self-possessed features, it does introduce some fresh concepts. One such original concept is Concord‘s cooldown system, although it struggles with balance issues.

Concord’s Cooldown System Has Both Its Pros and Cons

Concord’s Cooldown System Rewards Skilled Players

In many games featuring hero characters or those that grant special powers to players, these abilities usually come with a cool-down period. After using an ability, players must wait for this cool-down time to elapse before they can use it again. The duration of this cool-down varies depending on the strength of the ability, enabling developers to subtly but significantly adjust the game’s balance.

In contrast to its rivals in the hero shooter genre, Concord doesn’t adhere as strictly to the usual conventions. Although most of the Freegunners in Concord have a cooldown for their abilities, some do not. Instead, these abilities can be reset by completing a particular action. For instance, many Freegunner abilities can be recharged upon getting an elimination, and others necessitate the player to keep holding the ability button in order to recharge it.

In essence, Concord’s cool-down mechanism offers a fresh take on a gameplay convention in hero shooters that has been consistent for nearly two decades. This system encourages skill by enabling proficient players to regain their abilities more quickly, thereby extending their winning streak. However, it should be noted that Concord’s innovative cool-down system is not without its flaws.

Concord’s Cooldown System Doesn’t Work For Every Freegunner

For swift-action Freegunners such as Lennox and Haymar, who thrive on quickly engaging opponents and defeating them in mere seconds, the cooldown system within Concord effectively complements the game’s rapid tempo, offering a satisfying boost of accomplishment when they manage to build up a winning streak. However, this same cooldown mechanism doesn’t deliver nearly the same benefits for the more methodical Freegunners featured on Concord’s roster, as it seems to hinder rather than help their slower-paced playstyles.

For characters like Jabali and Emari, who are more focused on providing support, the elimination-based cooldown system seems a bit off-balance. Jabali’s healing orbs necessitate player eliminations to recharge, but achieving this can be quite challenging due to Jabali’s primary weapon dealing less damage compared to other Freegunners. The same issue applies to Emari’s shield, which is already rather weak. By the time players have secured a kill with Emari and recharged their body shield, they may find themselves overwhelmed by hordes of enemy Freegunners, making Emari a conspicuous target due to her large size.

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2024-08-30 22:13